Paul, Santorum lead wave of Nevada campaigning

GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul churned up 1,000 supporters at a rally in Henderson on Tuesday evening, saying he feels good about his chances in Nevada and is ready to take on Mitt Romney.

Paul told the crowd he congratulated Romney on winning the Florida primary Tuesday but suggested he might not have as easy a time in a caucus state such as Nevada, where Paul finished behind Romney in 2008.

"I also said I'll see you soon in the caucus states," Paul said, drawing ear-splitting screams from a standing-room-only crowd inside a ballroom at the Green Valley Ranch Resort . "If you have an irate, tireless minority, you do very well in a caucus state."

The crowd broke into chants of "Ron Paul! Ron Paul!" which quickly shifted to "President Paul! President Paul!"

Paul's rally came on the first day of campaigning by the GOP presidential candidates in Nevada in the final days before Saturday's caucus, where Republicans meet to vote for their favorites.

While Paul focused his attention on Romney -- who is favored to win Nevada -- Rick Santorum, Romney and his GOP backers attacked Gingrich, who is struggling to extend the GOP nomination contest.

"He really used to be erratic, and I think he probably still is," said former U.S. Rep. Barbara Vucanovich, R-Nev., in a conference call arranged by the Romney's campaign. "Newt is very cocky, arrogant, unreliable. I don't want him as my nominee."

Vucanovich, 90, represented Northern and rural Nevada in the House from 1983 to 1997. In Congress, she was a member of the Gingrich-founded Conservative Opportunity Society and served as secretary of the Republican conference when Gingrich was speaker.

Romney and Paul have the deepest campaign organizations in Nevada, whereas Gingrich and Santorum are just ramping up for a late dash to pick up some of the Silver State's 28 delegates at stake.

Tuesday afternoon in Las Vegas, Santorum wooed an audience of 100, packed with members of the tea party movement, a conservative voting bloc for which he and Gingrich are competing.

The former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania pitched that he is the most conservative candidate in the race. Although Nevadans are suffering high unemployment, he said more is at stake.

"It's not just about jobs. It's not just about the economy," Santorum said, using a message that might not play too well here. "I've always believed that the tea party is the backbone of the Republican Party."

Santorum acknowledged he has his work cut out for him in Nevada, where he is little-known. A lack of momentum from the Florida primary, where he didn't compete much, doesn't help.

"I understand this is a tough place to go," he said, adding, "We're here, and we're competing."

Even his supporters doubted he would do well Saturday. "Probably not very good, to be honest with you," Brian Liebzeit said.

Most in the crowd said they remained undecided.

Santorum planned to campaign today in Colorado, which holds a caucus on Feb. 7, days after Nevada. Paul, too, has been campaigning there as the two try to pick up stray delegates.

Caucus contests usually go to the candidates who have the most loyal, active following and can pack the party meetings.

Both Romney and Gingrich are scheduled to arrive today to campaign in Southern and Northern Nevada this week.

Gingrich plans today to hold a 1 p.m. rally in Reno after he meets privately with GOP Gov. Brian Sandoval in Carson City. Sandoval had endorsed Texas Gov. Rick Perry before he dropped out of the race and has said he plans to stay neutral. Sandoval agreed to meet the former House speaker at Gingrich's request.

"None of the other candidates have requested a meeting at this time but have been offered the same opportunity to meet with the governor," Sandoval spokeswoman Mary-Sarah Kinner said.

Romney plans to appear at a Las Vegas rally today outside Brady Industries, a wholesale distributor of cleaning products.

Paul is set to address Latinos this morning at the invitation of Hispanics in Politics, an influential organization in Las Vegas. He is the only GOP candidate who accepted the invitation, the group said.

The Texas congressman has focused on gaining supporters among diverse groups: Hispanics, veterans, young voters and Mormons, who previously have backed their fellow church-goer Romney.

That diversity was apparent in the Henderson crowd, where older supporters mixed with fresh-faced youths and families, who brought babies and toddlers sitting in strollers playing with balloons.

"I was a Democrat and voted for Obama last time," said 22-year-old Aaron Lyddon of Henderson, long hair falling over his eyes. "I've seen what Obama's done in the past three years, and I don't like it. With Ron Paul you get the feeling he's for the people."

Paul enjoys a loyal following among libertarian-minded Nevadans who like his message of trimming the federal government and pulling U.S. military forces out of Iraq and Afghanistan and other war zones.

Paul said people across the country who are backing him know that the country's economic crisis has been caused by expanding government and a military that tries to be "the policeman to the world."

"The problem is too much government," Paul said, saying it has become too costly and intrusive. "We need more personal liberty."

Paul said the United States has spent $4 trillion dollars fighting "unwinnable wars" in recent years. He said the Pentagon should focus on defending America and not on getting involved in other nations' problems.

"I would like to see all the troops spending their money at home," Paul said to another round of cheers. "American people are tired of it. They know this country is bankrupt. It's time for a wake-up call."

Paul's speech lasted about 15 minutes. The crowd had waited for nearly an hour but were entertained by music, including a guitar player who sung a Bob Dylan song, "Times They Are A-Changin.' "

Contact reporter Laura Myers at lmyers@reviewjournal.com. Contact Reporter Lawrence Mower at lmower@reviewjournal.com.